Really great space! We just built our DIY coop, yours looks amazing!
We noticed that the taller the coop, the hotter the ceiling. Anything to get the hot air out from the ceiling will be great! I wonder if you could add gable vents or a roof vent to help out? Two exhaust fans will work even...
This makes me wanna do butt checks! We're still new at chicken tending (second summer), so we tend to overlook the bare patches under their butts. We're usually helicopter parents, so it feels silly that we never thought to worry about that.
I would definitely recommend that all treatment is...
We got pullets last year from the same breeder, but they were clearly raised in separate flocks. They had some growing pains (pecking order tiffs), but it wasn't terrible. I suggest getting some No Peck in case there is feather picking. Have a space where you can put the problem children in case...
When our first cockerels started to crow, one of our hens croaked out her own crow. I wonder if your lady is trying to reaffirm her role of head hen, haha!
Oh my, 12 weeks? I also think they all might be cockerels because of the combs/waddles. I'm not good at ID'ing by feathers, but those neck feathers look pointy.
We have so many little pieces floating around, we can totally create this! Thank you for the inspo!
We've gotten really lucky with our chicks (and even integrating our chicks to the bigs.) in regards to pecking order business. There's always going to be those neck dances and little tiffs but no...
I'll let the experts chime in if she's a cockerel. I'm terrible at that, haha!
Do you have a feeder/waterer in the metal run? Was the aggression near the food? I wonder if having a separate feed area might help.
Also, it could have been pecking order drama that went too far. Have you let her...
8 weeks is when our bantam cockerel started to show out, like @nuthatched said, are you sure it's a pullet?
Also, do you have any good obstacles in the run? Ensure that there are places for them to go and hide. Pics of the area would be great!
I love sitting out with the birds and watching nature. It's so good for my brain. I even tolerate the heat a little more while doing it. I'm diagnosed ADHD and C-PTSD. I also have sarcoidosis. Chicken tending has been so wonderful for me! I have a partner who is on the spectrum (aren't we all?)...
We're having such a bad ant year. Now we're getting those mutant black ants that bite just as bad as fire ants. I'll try those ant baits outside of our chicken area. Inside, we use DE but it barely works.
Both of our cockerels are cuddle bugs! We had one "mama's girl" and one "daddy's girl" and they both turned into boys. Of course were going to make it work - they're the sweetest! I'm hoping they stay that way!
Yay! My BCM is the only one to squat, but she laid her first egg a few days after she started.
We had a pen set up for our first flock because we were helicopter parents. They would have grazing time in the afternoon. Would that be possible? Our first eggs typically came in the morning, but...
Our ability to just get used to chicken poo is hilarious.
My partner loves to overfeed all of our animals. I feel like a monster trying to limit their scratch. The number of times I say, "10%!" during the week is hilarious. They didn't clean their plates. But I also think they were overserved...
Start with a shed like @SnackMeat suggested, or if you have the time, a DIY build. Take a look at the large coops on here; we got a lot of inspiration from them. Remember, ventilation is your friend! Even in colder months.